Iron rest



United States Patent [72] Inventor David Lehrman Cheltenham, Pa.

[21] Appl. No. 765,532

[22} Filed Oct. 7, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 29, 1970 [73] Assignee The lronees Company Philadelphia, Pa. in corporation of Pennsylvania [54] IRON REST 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. CI. 248/117.2, 117/132; 248/175 [51] Int. Cl. D06f 79/02, 844d 1/34 [50] Field ofSearch 248/117.1, 455,117.2,371,l17.3,117.4,117.5,117.6, 117.7,175,463,465;117/132CF [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,791,390 5/1957 Grommons 3,126,664 3/1964 Gibson 248/463 3,142,916 8/1964 Jacobson... l17/132CFX 3,202,389 8/1965 Zoffer 248/1 17.4

3,212,742 10/1965 Pavoni 248/117.1 FOREIGN PATENTS 158,167 2/1921 Great Britain 248/463 69,690 10/1945 Norway 248/1 17.2

OTHER REFERENCES The Journal of Teflon, vol. 1 No. 4, dated 1960 by E. 1. du Pont Class. 177-132 C.F.

Primary Examiner-Chancellor E. Harris Attorney-Seide1& Gonda ABSTRACT: An iron rest is disclosed having an open frametype iron supporting member and a support leg coupled to the frame to raise one edge of the frame clear of a support surface, the iron supporting member being coated with a self-lubricating, high melting point plastic polymeric material to prevent marring of a supported iron, sticking of an iron to the rest, buildup of starch on the rest, and other undesirable effects.

PATENTED 05229 I978 M/I/EA/TOA? DAVID LEHRMAN A Tram/71 IRON REST This invention relates to iron rests, and more particularly, to iron rests having a coating of nonsticking plastic polymeric material on certain of its parts.

Numerous constructions have been proposed for iron rests. One well-known construction employs a stamped or otherwise formed imperforate sole plate engaging element of corrosionresistant sheet material, the edges of which are wrapped around a core of fibrous insulating material such as asbestos board. Alternatively, a sheet metal backing may be provided to wholly enclose the core.

The above-described conventional iron rest is subject to several serious shortcomings. In the first place, when used with steam irons, the heat-conductive metal imperforate sole plate engaging element tends to cause condensation beneath the iron, the condensate frequently running off the support and soaking the ironing board cover and pad. Moreover, there is a tendency for starch to accumulate on the rest. Such accumulated starch is unsightly, and moreover, may be inadvertently transferred to a garment. In addition to the foregoing, the sheet metal material of conventional iron rests frequently discolors under heat and moisture, thus giving them an untidy appearance.

In one proposed construction attempting to overcome the above-mentioned shortcomings of conventional iron rests, an open frame member is provided for supporting the iron. A support leg coupled to the frame members supports a portion of the frame member out of contact with the supporting surface. With such an arrangement, steam from the iron escapes freely through the open frame, and the condensation problem is partially overcome. Such an arrangement does not, however, alleviate the starch buildup problem, nor does it prevent discoloration or corrosion of the rest.

Moreover, the increasing popularity with consumers of irons having sole plates coating with nonstick material has pointed up a further serious shortcoming of known iron rests of both conventional and open frame construction. When the weight of the iron is concentrated on a small supporting area, as it is in open frame type iron rests, there is a greater tendency for the rest to mar the irons sole plate. This tendency is particularly pronounced in the case of relatively soft nonstick" coatings. Thus, use of known iron rests with coated irons tends to seriously shorten the useful life of the coatings.

The present invention overcomes all of the known shortcomings of prior art iron rests by providing a rest of open frame construction, wherein the iron supporting member is itself coated with a self-lubricating nonstick material. Quite unexpectedly, the present construction has been found to overcome all of the above-mentioned shortcomings of known iron rest constructions.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel iron re st.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel iron rest of the open frame type, and wherein an iron support member is coated with a nonstick material.

It is another object to provide a novel iron rest suitable for use with irons of all commercially available sizes.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a fonn which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an iron rest in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an iron rest in accordance with the invention, showing an iron in place thereon.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view showing an iron in place on the iron rest.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the presently disclosed iron rest.

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like nu- .merals indicate like elements, there is seen in FIG. 1 an iron rest designated generally by the reference numeral 10.

The iron rest includes an iron support member designated generally by the reference numeral 12. The support member 12 includes a pair of spaced bar members 14 and 16, defining medial support elements. Also, the support member 12 includes a bar member defining a peripheral edge element 18. In a preferred form, the medial support elements 14 and 16 and the peripheral edge element 18 are constructed of wirelike bar stock, of round cross section.

Also, in a preferred embodiment, as is apparent from FIGS. 1 and 3--5, the medial support elements 14 and 16 are coupled to lower surfaces of the peripheral edge element 18. For example, the medial support elements 14 and 16 may be coupled to the lower surface of the peripheral edge element 18 by welds 20 and 22, best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As is also apparent from the drawings, the cross-sectional dimension of the peripheral edge element 18 is somewhat larger than that of the medial support elements 14 and 16. Thus, in the preferred form of the invention, the peripheral edge elements 18 provide a means for retaining an iron on the iron support member 12. The peripheral edge element 18 preferably includes tapered side portions approximating the usual plan shape of an iron. Ideally, the peripheral edge element 18 is sufficiently large to accommodate within its periphery the largest commercially available iron.

As is best seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the sole plate 24 of an iron 26 may be received and supported on the medial support elements 14 and 16.

The peripheral edge element 18 includes an upturned rear portion 28, which serves to prevent sliding of the heel of the iron 26 rearwardly, off the support member 12. The rear portion 28 provides a convenient location for a weld 30, joining free ends of the peripheral edge element 18.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, a support leg 32 is coupled to the iron support member 12. In the illustrated form of the invention, loops 34 and 36 in respective medial support ele ments l4, 16. The support leg 32, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment of a single piece of round bar stock, includes trunnion portions 38, 40 in engagement with respective loops 34, 36. Thus, the loops 34 and 36 and trunnion portions 38 and 40 provide a convenient hinge means for the support leg 32. Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, bight portions 42 and 44, extending forwardly from the trunnion portions 38 and 40, serve to maintain the support leg 32 in an upright or operative position. With the support leg 32 in the operative position, the iron rest 10, when placed on a support surface 46, is supported by the support leg 32 and rear corner portions 48, 50 of the peripheral edge element 18, adjacent the rear portion 28. Support leg 32 may be pivoted about trunnion portions 38, 40 to the dotted line position in FIG. 4, thus producing a compact item for storage.

The above-described open frame iron rest is not per se novel. An important aspect, however, of the present iron rest 10, is the coating 52 of plastic polymeric material applied to the iron support member 12. The coating 52 is of self-lubricating, high melting point material, such as self-lubricating fluorohydrocarbons. By self-lubricating fluorohydrocarbons" is meant fluorinated or partially fluorinated and partially chlorinated hydrocarbons such as tetrafluoroethylene. Examples of such materials are the products sold under the trademark Teflon by E. l. du Pont de Nemours Co. By way of illustration, the coating 52 is seen in FIG. 1 partially broken away from the peripheral edge element 18 and medial support element 14. The coating 52 may be applied to the iron support member 12 in any well-known manner. For example, it has been found that application of the coating 52 electrostatic ally yields a smooth, uniform film of coating material. The coating 52 may be applied after fabrication of the iron support member 12, but before assembly with the support leg 32.

In one form of the invention, the coating 52 is applied as a twocoat system, including a .3 mil thick tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) primer coat, and a top coat of .9 mil .2 milthick 851-21 Teflon."

The above-described iron rest provides minimum surface contact between the sole plate 24 of the iron 26 and the iron support member 12. Moreover, since no bare metal on the iron support member 12 contacts sole plate 24, scraping or scratching of the sole plate 24 is prevented. If the sole plate 24 is itself coated with nonstick material, such material contacts only the coating 52. The coating 52 has a degree of hardness similar to the nonstick coating of the iron, and therefore marring of the iron is precluded. The coating 52 covers substantially the entire surface area of the iron support member 12. Thus, referring to H0. 5, side portions of the sole plate 24 of the iron 26 are protected from metal contact as well as bottom portions.

Starch buildup is not a problem with the above-described iron rest, since no form of starch presently available adheres to coating 52. Starch deposited on upper surfaces of the iron support member 12 tends to run off. Any residue may be removed by a light wiping.

The coating 52 serves to protect the metal of the support member 12 from corrosion due to steam. Thus, the present iron rest 10 provides a long useful life. Moreover, the thermal conductivity of the coating is such that condensation on the coated elements is reduced noticeably.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as in dicating the scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

1. In an iron rest of the type comprising an elongated bar member forming a raised peripheral wall, said wall supporting at least two elongated rod members in spaced side by side relation, said rod members being connected to the lower surface of said peripheral wall so that the sole plate of an iron on the rest will be supported by said rod members and be constrained against sliding movement by said raised peripheral wall, said raised peripheral wall having a portion thereof being turned upwardly to define a support for the heel of an iron, a support leg pivotally connected to one end of said rod members and being movable from a collapsed position where it lies against said rest and an operative position where it stands away from said rest, said support leg functioning to hold said rest and an iron carried thereby away from a supporting surface to permit steam emanating from the iron to escape, said peripheral wall being operative to prevent an iron from sliding off of said rest when said support leg is in its operative position the improvement comprising, said raised peripheral wall and said elongated rod members are coated with a self lubricating, high melting point, plastic polymeric material to prevent the sole plate of the iron from being damaged and to prevent accumulations of materials on said rest and the discoloration of said rest from heat and moisture. 

